Chess960 puzzles: Hook mate
Rook, knight and pawn form a hook the king cannot escape.
The hook mate is a three-piece construction: the rook mates, the knight guards the rook, and a pawn guards the knight. The rook strikes the king at close range along a line, the knight stands diagonally nearby stealing the escape squares, and the pawn anchors the chain. The pattern usually appears near the edge after a rook invasion. Build it link by link — first plant the knight under pawn protection, then crash in with the rook.
67 puzzles
Mate in 1: rook to d3
Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f2)
Mate in 2: double attack on g3
Mate in 1: rook to g2
Mate in 1: rook to f8 (f5)
Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·4)
Mate in 2: knight to f6 (e4·3)
Mate in 1: rook to b7
Mate in 1: rook to g7
Mate in 1: rook to d6
Mate in 2: queen to e3
Mate in 1: rook to f2
Mate in 2: rook to f7 (f2)
Mate in 1: rook to e7 (h7)
Mate in 3: rook to h1 (h4)
Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c7·3)
Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c7·4)
Mate in 2: knight to c6 (a5)
Mate in 2: knight to g3 (e4)
Mate in 2: rook to b8 (b1·3)
Mate in 2: knight to g6 (h4·3)
Mate in 2: rook to f6 (f2)
Mate in 2: knight to f7 (h8)
Mate in 2: pawn to b4 (b2)